Explore Pilates Insights for an Active, Balanced Life

It may be January, but I’m already thinking about what I need to do to get ready for the TransSelkirks Half Stoke Trail Run this summer. Since trail running is so different from road or track running, I know that I’ll be including lots of Pilates for trail running to improve my performance and reduce […]

I’ve learned a lot in my almost three decades of working in the fitness industry. Sure, there are the obvious things like technique and the various types of exercise; but the biggest lesson I’ve learned has been about people. I think part of what I’ve learned comes from my own journey and the passing of […]

It can be hard to stick to your fitness routine and keep moving over the holidays. You think we’d be used to the disruption, as it comes every year! It’s also not the only time our “regular” schedules are interrupted, especially if you have school-aged children. There’s spring break, daylight savings time, summer vacation, and […]

Balance is one of those things that seems to get worse with age. It’s also something that we need to keep us stable in the activities we do every day: reaching, leaning, and even walking require balance. If you make an effort to maintain and improve your balance, you’ll be able to keep doing the […]

I regularly get asked how often you should practice Pilates. Well, that’s going to depend on your current fitness level and your goals. But before we get into that, here’s what Joseph Pilates had to say:  In 10 sessions, you feel better, in 20 sessions you look better, and in 30 sessions you have a […]

Can you improve your golf game with Pilates? You bet! The passion golfers have for their sport often reminds me of the passion runners have for running. They’ll get out no matter the weather to take part in their favourite activity, sometimes even when it hurts. Like running (and many other sports), golfing has a […]

Can you get down to the ground? Can you get back up off of the ground? Staying mobile as you age is important so you can keep moving in all the ways you need to. Right now, you just might feel creaky or sore. Maybe your knees hurt going up stairs, or your back hurts […]

Did you know that you can heal plantar fasciitis with Pilates? Well, you sure can (I’ve done it myself)! How quickly your pain goes away, however, will depend on the severity of your case and whatever you’re doing alongside your Pilates practice.  I’ve Had Plantar Fasciitis 3 Times Over the past thirty years, I’ve had […]

Sometimes I have people ask me why Pilates is more expensive than going to a group bootcamp or gym class. What it costs to do Pilates depends on several factors, and will affect the cost of the class or session.  The Size of the Class When you take a group class at the gym, several […]

Recently, I had my teacher trainees pick their favourite Joseph Pilates quote. He was a very smart man, and they all had difficulty choosing just one. In the end, the one that we ended up choosing for discussion was this: Patience and persistence are vital qualities in the ultimate successful accomplishment of any worthwhile endeavor. […]

I often get asked what muscles a certain exercise works, or what muscles a client should be feeling. That’s a tough one to answer, because Pilates is designed to work your full body. It’s pretty common to focus on the big muscle groups like your quads or biceps; I used to be the same!  When […]

It’s well-known that Pilates can strengthen your core, which most people associate with their abs. Yes, the abdominal muscles are part of your core, but it also includes your sides, back, pelvic floor, hip flexors, and glutes. These are the muscles that hold you up, support your spine, and stabilize your hips and pelvis. Some […]

When you walk into most Pilates studios, you’ll notice that there are all kinds of different machines, or apparatuses. I’ve been sharing about many of the apparatuses you might come across, including the reformer, tower, wunda chair, spine corrector, magic circle, 2×4, and toe gizmo. In addition to these, there are a variety of Pilates […]

The Magic Circle goes by many names, including Fit Circle, Spring Circle, and Pilates Ring. If you ask some of my clients, however, they may call it the Circle of Death or the Torture Wheel. Most people have a love-hate relationship with this apparatus because it really makes you feel the burn. Once in a […]

We are making our way through all of the apparatus in this blog series, and next up is the Pilates apparatus for the feet. In fact, there are three of them! Much like the other apparatuses, the ones for your feet work out your whole body when you’re using them correctly. Our feet do so […]